Housed indicator dial



Patented Aug. 18, 1931 PATENT .OFFICE HENRY J. Krisen, or DAYTON, oHIo HOUSED INDICATOR DIAL Application led June 15, 1929.

This invention relates to rotary indicators and more particularly to a mask or housing enclosing the rotary indicator and means for actuating the rotary indicator within such housing and limiting its degree of Imovement.

In the present invention there is contemplated a housing or mask which may be of more or less ornamental shape and design and which is recessed upon its rear side to receive a rotary dial. This housing or mask is stationarily secured upon the panel of a radio receiving set or the like in position to overly and enclose the usual rotary dial pertaining to and controlling an adjustable tuning instrument. The ma-sk is provided with an observation opening through which a very limited portion of the graduated margin of the dial may be observed.

At the lower portion of the mask or housing there is provided an adjusting knobthe stem of which has frictional engagement with the periphery of the dial. Such adjusting stem is yieldingly held in engagement with the dial by .a substantially heart shaped spring. The face of the mask or housing is imperforate except for the observation opening before mentioned, but upon its inner side is provided with a socket into which projects a hub upon the face of the dial. The dial is provided with a stop pin engageable with a lug upon the interior of the mask or housing to limit its range of adjustment.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such enclosed and protected indicator dials whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction but will be more eiiicient in use, capable of being easily and accurately adjusted, of pleasing appearance and unlikely to get out of order.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide improved means for actuating an enclosed indicator dial.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of spring for the actuating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for limiting the range of adjustment of the dial.

Serial No. 371,131.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations` thereof and the mode of operation or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. j

In the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an indicator dial and the protecting housing or mask, forming the subject matter hereof, in its assembled relation with the dial.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the housing or 65 mask through the observation space of which a portion of the dial graduations appear.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the housing or mask with the dial partly broken away.

Y Fig. 4 is a face view of the rotary dial re- 70 moved from the housing.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views. n

In the accompanying drawings, l indicates the usual rotary indicatordial having atk its center a forwardly projecting boss or hub 2 within which is located a slit clutch sleeve 3 for engaging the dial l with the rotary shaft of a radio tuning instrument or other device. The rotary disc 1 carries about its periphery a series of graduations 4, as shown in Fig. 2.

Overlying and completely enclosing the dial l is a recessed mask or housing 5 having a rearwardly extending marginal flange 6 85 forming a chamber 7 within which the dial l is enclosed. The marginal flange 6 abuts upon the face of the mounting panel of the radio set to which it is secured by rearwardly extending studs embedded in the mask or housing 5 and projecting through properly spaced holes in the panel. The mask or housing 5 is stationarily supported wholly independent of the dial 1 which is free to ro tate within the interior of the chamber `7.

The mask or housing 5 may be of any suitable shape or design. Merely for the purpose of illustration and with no intent to limit the invention to the particular shape or design illustrated, the housing has been shown in m0 closes and conceals the central hub or-boss- 2Y of the dial and its shaft connection.

The mask or housing thus presents a uniform, continuous, exterior surface beyondwhich no portion of the dial or its mounting extends. connection of the dial with the shaft not only against damage-or breakage or change of adjustment ofthe di'all upon the shaft, but it also prevents any incidental change of the adjustment of the dial setting, as is likely tooccur when the hub of the dial ora knob carried thereby projects beyond the face of the mask or housing. Y

At the topvof the mask or housing 5 is located anV observation opening 11 through which graduations 4 upon the face of the dial are-visible as the dialis rotated to and fro.

ln order to rotate the dial 1 within the housing 5, there is provided upon the lower portion of the-mask or housing, an adjusting knob 13, theI rearface of which is recessed toreceive al forwardly projecting-hollow boss 14 formed upon the face of the mask 5. The bore ofI this hollow boss 14 is inwardly flared in vert-ical direction, as indicated at 15. The outervoriliceof the boss 14 is of substantially circular form and affords a bearing for a rotary stud 16fembeddedY in the adjusting knob 13' and projecting inwardly through such boss 14. The stud 16 is provided at its innerend witha peripheral groove 17V", the sides of which converge inwardly. The periphery of the dial 1 engagesi'n the groove 17 at one side ofthestud 16, while a spring 18 maintained under tensionwith its end resting upon the marginal ii'ange` 6, engages the opposite side of the stud 16; By'its expansive tendency., the spring 18I tends to press the studv 16 against the periphery ofthedial l. The vcrticalf'are or enlargement 15 ofthe bore within the hub 141 permits a slight verticalftil'ting-adg justment of ythe stud 16 relative-to themask or housing into engagement with the dial under the influence of theA spring 18. This spring 18-is for-medvfromilatstock and is of substantially heart-'shaped contour. The friction drive stem 16 restsiina re-entrant bight formedv at thetop of the spring on opposite sides of which project upwardly eX- tendingbigh'ts or lobes of the spring material; rllhe ends of the spring 18 extend downwardly andv inwardly, resting upon the mmvfginalv flange 6 and abut upon an interposed lug-19 at thebottom of the mask or housing.4

It thus protects the dial: and the.

of resiliency and uniformity of action. By forming the spring of substantially heartshape, as illustrated, a much greater length of spring material is included. The spring fits within the lower portion of the mask or housing, resting against the marginal ange 6 where-it is heldby its reaction against the actuating stud 16. So shaped and positioned, thereis but little tendency for the spring to become displacedand while affording ample driving pressure ofthe stud 16 upon the periphery of. the disc, such resi-stance is not diiiicult to overcome in disengaging the stud from the dial. or engaging it therewith at the time of assembly.

Within the dome 10 or otherwise centrally disposed relative to the mask or housing, there is provided an annular inwardly projectingl flange 20- which forms asocket or blind bearing into which the boss 2 of the i dial 1 projects. Vhile this is not an essenti'al feature, it is desirable in properly locatingthe housing and the dial relative to eachother.

Locatedupon the interior face-of the mask This enables the The dial 1` isr preferably,

customary marking. Otherwise, by the use'- cfa single stop pin 22, the dial is limited to one complete rotation by the engagement' ofV such pinfwith the lugV 21.

Vllhile the mask or housing' 5V may be for-med from any suitable material such as sheet metal, liber, pulp,- hard rubber orthe like, phenolic condensation material is preferred. Such material is notA only cheaply and economicallyv molded, but it affords a inepolish surface of* pleasing appearance and'l may beproduced in various colors with ornamental surface markings or imitation wood-graining. Furthermore, such phenolic condensation material is quite lightin weight yet strong and durable and aords ample protection to the enclosed dial.

From the above description-it will be apparent thatthere is'thus provided ay device ofthe character described possessing the particnlar features of advantager before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptibl'e'of modification i'n its form, proportions, detail construction and' arrangement of parts without departing-I from the principleiinvolved'- or-sacricing any of'its advantages.

While in order to comply With the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shovvn, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into eect and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary dial or the like, a revoluble actuating stem having driving engagement With the dial, a mounting therefor, and a substantially heart-shaped spring having a medial re-entrant bight in Which the actuating stem rests.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary dial or the like, a revoluble actuating stem having driving engagement With the dial, a mounting therefor, a bovv spring the ends of which approach one toward the other, and a lug upon the mounting forming opposite stop shoulders against which the ends of the spring abut, the medial portion of said bovv spring bearing against the side of the actuating stem opposite its engagement With the dial.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary dial or the like, a revoluble actuating stem having driving engagement with the dial, a mounting therefor, and a length of spring material bent into a succession of reverse bights, in one of Which bights the actuating stem rests With adjacent oppositely disposed bights of such spring material extending on opposite sides of the stem, the ends of the length of spring material being seated upon said mounting.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary dial or the like, a revoluble actuating stem having driving engagement with the dial, a mounting therefor, and a length of spring material having a medial bight formed therein in which the acutating stem rests, the ends of the length of spring material being inturned toward each other and engaged With said mounting.

5. A housing for a radio dial or the like comprising a mask overlying the dial and having an observation opening therein through Which graduations upon the dial may be observed, means for rotating the enclosed dial, a stop lug formed upon the inner face of the mask and stop pins carried in spaced relation by the dial and alternately engageable With the stop lug to limit the range of rotation of the dial.

6. A housing for a radio dial or the like comprising a mask overlying the dial and having an observation opening therein through which graduations upon the dial may be observed, means for rotating the enclosed dial, of a stop lug located interiorly of said housing, said dial having a series of spaced holes therein and a stop pin engageable in any one of the holes of the series and engageable With the stop lug upon rotation of the disc to limit the range of adjustment thereof.

7 A housing for a radio dial or the like comprising a mask overlying the dial and having an observation opening therein through Which graduations upon the dial may be observed, means for rotating the enclosed dial, a stop lug located interiorly of said housing, said dial having tWo pairs of spaced holes therein, one pair of holes being located on each side of the center of the disc in substantially diametrically opposed relation, and a pair of pins interchangeably engageable in said holes.

8. A housing for a radio dial or the like comprising a mask overlying the dial and having an observation opening therein through which graduations upon the dial may be observed, means for rotating the enclosed dial, a journal bearing in said housing, and an integral projecting bearing portion on said dial engaged therein, whereby the dial is revolubly supported upon the housing independent of other supporting means.

9. A housing for a radio dial or the like comprising a mask overlying the dial and having an observation opening therein through which graduations upon the dial may be observed, means for rotating the enclosed dial, said dial bearing tvvo reversely disposed series of graduations distributed respectively over the opposite halves of the dial, a stop lug located Within the housing, and stop pins located in proximate relation With the limits of the respective series of graduations adapted to alternately engage thev stop lug on opposite sides to limit the range of revoluble adjustment of the dial to one series of graduations.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of June, A. D. 1929.

HENRY J. KASCH. 

